Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has become the first sitting governor to fly in a fully automated aircraft. The 8-minute flight took place May 19, 2017, following the opening of NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Research Center unmanned aerial systems (UAS) runway on Virginia’s eastern shore. The governor solidified his commitment to supporting emerging UAS technology by flying […]
UAS
Sporty’s introduces plaques to display UAS certificates
Now available from Sporty’s, the UAS Elite Plaque displays the UAS certificate, which is printed onto an aluminum alloy plate using a sublimation process. The resulting high gloss finish is fade- and scratch-resistant. “We know UAS pilots are as proud of their certificates as manned aircraft pilots, so this plaque is a perfect memento for […]
King Schools updates drone course
King Schools has released Version 2.0 of its Drone Pilot License Test Prep Course. The course is a collaboration between King Schools and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). Since Version 1.0 was released in January 2017, more than 1,000 drone operators have passed the test, according to King Schools officials. Additions to […]
Recreational drone registry ruled unlawful
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled the FAA’s drone registry is unlawful. The ruling was handed down Friday, May 19, 2017. As of March 2017, more than 770,000 operators had registered with the FAA. Nearly all paid a $5 fee. On Dec. 24, 2015, Maryland-based lawyer and model aircraft hobbyist […]
Airbus Aerial launches
Airbus has launched the U.S.-based operations of a new commercial drone start-up, named Airbus Aerial. “Through Airbus Aerial, we are uniquely positioned and fully committed to advancing the commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry. It is bringing together partners from across the industry – ranging from vehicle manufacturers, data analytics companies, service providers and others – to […]
Gryphon Sensors demonstrates UAS detection system at DFW
Gryphon Sensors, which specializes in drone detection, demonstrated its Skylight system at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from April 24-28. A wide variety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) were flown in an operational airport environment to test the capability of the system to detect, track, classify and display threats. The Skylight system integrates a diverse […]
As drone sales soar, majority of reports remain simple sightings
A new analysis released by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) of the 1,270 new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings reported by the FAA earlier this year found that the vast majority of these sightings are just that — sightings. When releasing the latest data, the FAA specifically stated that no collision between civilian aircraft and a civilian drone […]
FAA releases study on drone collision hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. – What would happen if a drone hits a person on the ground? What’s the risk of serious injury? Although the FAA can’t yet definitively answer those questions, studies by a consortium of universities have made a start toward better understanding the risks of allowing small unmanned aircraft – or drones – to […]
Georgia Tech wins first Collegiate Drone Racing Championship
Georgia Tech won the first-ever Collegiate Drone Racing National Championship hosted by Purdue University on April 15, 2017, scoring more than $15,000 worth of equipment and prizes. Gusty winds and a winding track were no match for the 48 pilots and their homemade drones. The races went off without a hitch, despite challenging 19-20 mph winds, according […]